Symeon the New Theologian

Symeon the New Theologian (949–1022) is one of three saints of the Orthodox church to have been given the title of Theologian (the others are St. John the Apostle and St. Gregory Nazianzen). Born in Galatia and educated at Constantinople, he became abbot of the monastery of St. Mamas.

St. Symeon was a poet who embodied the mystical tradition. He wrote that humans could experience the Spirit of God directly. His works influenced the hesychastic controversy of the 14th century.